Only 2.61% of 3.68M target vaccineees in Bicol received COVID-19 jabs —DOH

The Department of Health - Region V said only 2.61% of the 3.68 million target vaccinees in the Bicol Region have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a report on News TV Live on Saturday.

Even in the A1 priority group (healthcare workers), only 62% have received COVID-19 vaccines.

This is even lower than the vaccinations done among the A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with co-morbidities) priority groups in the region.

The DOH Region V wants local government units in the Bicol Region to go over their master list of target vaccinees amid the low vaccination turnout to encourage more to take the jabs.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday admitted that the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has been slow in some areas that are far-flung or affected by conflict.

Vergeire said all regions have been improving their vaccine rollout but some are experiencing challenges.

She assured the public that more vaccines are on the way.

Vergeire also said the DOH continues to intensify its education campaign to address vaccine hesitancy.

The Philippines targets to inoculate 70 million Filipinos against COVID-19 within the year.

The country's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,216,582 on Saturday after the DOH reported 7,443 new infections.

Total recoveries increased to 1,142,246. The death toll climbed to 20,722, while the number of active cases decreased to 53,614. —KG, GMA News